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From John Adams, Minna
The Niger State Government has urged communities along the riverside to urgently adhere to the flood warnings issued by the Federal Government on the potential flooding in some states of the federation due to anticipated heavy rains. The state government strongly advised residents of the communities living around the riverside to immediately relocate to higher ground. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had issued a weather forecast of widespread thunderstorm and rainfall across the country. The forecast revealed that many communities across 15 states would witness flood this month. Also on Wednesday, the Federal Government predicted potential flooding in 38 locations across the 15 states. The warning was contained in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Environment through the National Flood Early Warning Centre under the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department.
The Niger State Government, in a statement by the Special Adviser to the governor on communication, media and strategy, Jonathan Vatsa, in Minna on Friday, said there is the urgent need for those living along the riverbank to relocate to a safe place to avoid possible disaster. Vatsa emphasised that the government could not afford to witness another catastrophic situation like the recent Mokwa flood disaster, which claimed over 200 lives with property worth millions of naira destroyed.
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According to him, Niger state is one of the most flood-prone states in the country with no year passes without one form of flood disaster or the other with attendant loss of lives.
Vatsa disclosed that over 2,000 communities across 15 local government areas of the state are living by the riverside, and therefore the need for the communities to heed to the federal government flood warning.
